Propeller mechanism



Jan. 7, 1930. "F. v. BARNOW PROPELLER MECHANISM I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 27. 1928 v Inventor Fran/r YBarnq-w Jan. 7, 1930. F. v. BARNOW 1,742,374

PHOPELLER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 2'7, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Frank YBarnow B w 4 y Attormgy Jan. 7, 1930.

F. v. BARNOW 1,742,374

PROPELLER MECHANISM I Filed Sept. 27. 1928 '4 Sheets-Sheet s fn'uentar Fran/f YBar'nm v Jan. 7, 1930. vQBARNow I PROPELLYIJR MECHANISM Filed Sept. 27. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 QN hgw sw a m m mP k n. a n NR an m w A: AWN R Q Patented Jan. 7, 1930 UNETED STATES FRANK V. BARNOW, OF FLEMING, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF TWENTY PER GENT TO JOHN N. TORAIN, 0F FLEMING, KENTUCKY PBOPELLER MECHANISM Application filed. September 2'7, 1928.

The present invention relates to propeller mechanisms designed for use on aircraft both of the lighter than air and heavier than air types, and has for its prime object to provide a propeller having a movement similar to a paddle wheel and having a means for severing the blades thereof, so that said blades will be effective through a half cycle and ineffective through the remaining half cycle of rotation.

Another very important object of the invention resides in the provision of means for severing the blades so that the propeller will be effective for propulsion either forwardly or upwardly in air navigation.

A still further very important object of the invention resides in the provision of a mechanism of this nature which is exceedingly simple in its construction, strong and durable, thoroughly eflicient and reliable in use and operation, easy to manipulate, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

lVith the above and numerous other obj ects in View, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a propeller embodying the features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section through the frame of the propeller.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the propeller and the severing means associated therewith.

Figure 4 is a sectional view therethrough.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one side frame of the propeller.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through one of the actuating rings.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 7 7 of Figure 3, and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of an aircraft with my improved propeller structure mounted thereon.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the propeller includes a Serial No. 308,819.

pair of substantially rectangular frames 5 connected together by a bar 6, which is braced in respect to the adjacent ends of the frames 5, as at 7. At the center of this bar 6 there is a hub 8, which is secured to one end of a shaft 9.

One propeller is disposed at each end of this shaft 9. Cross bars 10 are provided in the frame, and blades 11 are hingedly connected thereto as at 12, so that the blades may be swung to open or closed'position. These blades are normally held in closed position by cables 14 and springs 15. Frames 16 are slidably mounted in frames 5, as is indicated at 17 and 18 and have lateral lugs 19 to which the cables 14 are attached, so that by sliding these frames 16, the blades may be swung to open or closed position, it being noted that springs 15 will compensate for any additional movement of the frame 16 after the blades have closed. Rods 20 extend inwardly from the frames 16 and are pivotally engaged as at 21 with shoes 22, on a ring 23. The rings 23 are supported on the ends of a bar 24, the intermediate portion of which is attached or formed integrally with a frame 25, slidable in the ends 26 of a frame A. These ends 26 are connected together by cross members 27 and 28. The bottom ends of the end 26 are slidable on a base 29, from the ends of which rise bearings 30 rotatably receiving a shaft 31. This shaft 31 has portions 32 threaded through the ends 26, so that by turning the shaft 31 by a hand wheel 33 or in any other suitable manner, the frames A and 25 may be moved longitudinally of the propellers.

A threaded shank 34 depends from the cross member 27 and is threaded through a worm gear 34 which is in mesh with a worm 36 on the shaft 37 operable by a hand wheel 38 or other suitable means. This shaft 37 is journaled through the guides 26. Obviously, by moving the frame 25 up and down through the manipulation of the shaft 37, the rings 23 may be raised up and down. The shaft 9 passes through the rings 23 and when the rings 23 are so disposed that the shaft is at the center of these rings, it will be seen that the parts are so proportioned that the blades are midway between closed and opened positions as is clearly shown in Figure 3. If the rings are moved to the right of Figure 3, obviously the left hand blades will be closed and the right hand blades opened and as the propeller revolves, the blades will open and close and will be in closed position when moving downwardly and in open position when moving upwardly as they pass the horizontal. Obviously, by moving the rings up or down or forwardly or rearwardly, the blades may be caused to sever just as desired, so that a lift may be acquired by the propellers or a forward movement may be acquired.

In order that the blades may gather in as much air as practical, it is preferable to provide wings 40 on the outer sides of the frames 5, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 2, and thus the propellers will be very effective. These propellers may be mounted as is shown in Figure 8 and the shaft 9 may be driven by any suitable prime mover.

In other words, it will be seen that when the rings 23 are off center with respect to the shaft 9, they function as eccentric annular tracks, for the shoes 22, so as to cause the shifting of frames 16 to cause the severing of the blades and the eccentricity may be changed or varied in accordance with the de sired severing action.

It is thought that the construction, operation, utility and advantages of this invention will now be quite apparent to those skilled in this art, without a more detailed description thereof.

The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail, merely for the purposes of exemplification, since in actual practice it will attain the features of advan tage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

It is apparent that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is: r

1. A propeller including a primary frame, a secondary frame slidable on the primary frame, blades hingedly mounted in the primary frame, cables connected to the blades and to the secondary frame, so that said blades may be severed to closed or opened position by sliding the secondary frame, a shaft from which the primary frame radiates, a ring circumj acent the shaft, a shoe slidable on the ring, means for connecting the shoe with the secondary frame, and means for shifting the ring to different positions with respect to the shaft for varying its eccentricity and controlling the time of severing of the blades.

2. In a propeller mechanism of the severing type, a ring, shoes movable about the ring for severing of the blades, and means for shifting the ring to different positions.

3. In a mechanism of the class described, a ring, a pair of frames, a base, means for slidably mounting one of the frames on the base,

connecting the shoes with the respective Y secondary frames, an extensible frame member for'supporting the ring in said position, and means for shifting said extensible frame member whereby the ring may assume different positions with respect to the shaft for varying its eccentricity and controlling the time of severing of the blade.

5. In a propeller mechanism of the class described, the combination of a pair of frames, a base, means for slidably mounting one of the frames on the base, means for slidably mounting the other frame in said one frame to move at right angles to the move ment of said one frame, a shaft, a ring carried by said other frame and adapted to be disposed circumjacent the shaft, primary frame members radiating from the shaft, a secondary frame slidable on each of said primary frames, blades hingedly mounted in the primary frame, cables connected to the blades and to the secondary frames so that said blades may be severed to closed or opened position by sliding the secondary frame, shoes slidable on the ring, means for connecting the respective shoes with the secondary frames.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANK V. BARNOW. 

